Herb Turner

Recruited from West Melbourne, the diminutive utility affectionately known as "Stumpy" became a central figure in Carlton's golden era of the 1940s. Standing just 170cm, Turner compensated for his lack of height with versatility and skill, capable of winning his own ball in the midfield or drifting forward to hit the scoreboard as a dangerous rotation option. He cemented his place in Blues folklore as a dual premiership player, featuring in the infamous 1945 "Bloodbath" Grand Final victory over South Melbourne and the 1947 flag triumph two years later. A gifted all-round sportsman, Turner also played first-class cricket for Victoria, famously scoring 96 runs on debut against Western Australia at the MCG. His VFL journey concluded with a transfer to Hawthorn for the 1950 season, where he added 10 final games to his tally before retiring as a decorated two-sport athlete.